The shoe-throwing incident in Punjab Vidhan Sabha during the monsoon session by a Congress MLA has proved that the legislators in opposition have no other task except disturbing the session.

Congress lawmaker Tarlochan Singh Soondh threw his shoe at rival politician during the protests by his party in the house. It seems the Congress party legislators have lost their vision and mission as politicians.

Twenty legislators of the opposition were staying in the premises of Vidhan Sabha and spent two nights as a protest. However, such acts have shown their immaturity.

The act of immaturity by Soondh has shocked the people and politicians. The rival parties have also criticised the legislator for expressing his anger in a stupid way.

Soondh and other Congress members had crowded around the Speaker’s chair demanding a debate on their no-confidence motion against the ruling Punjab government led by SAD-BJP alliance.

Infuriated, Soondh took off his shoe and flung it at SAD legislator. When the legislators knew that their numbers are not enough for bringing the no-confidence motion then why they put their demand. It was just an act to create disturbance in the last assembly session. Moreover, few months left for the assembly polls.

People chose their representative so that the legislator should represent their constituency in the assembly. However, the Congress legislators have only disturbed the last session just to grab the media attention. They could have chosen debate or discussion instead of sleeping in the assembly hall. Soondh should have acted coolly in the assembly but he impatiently hurled shoe at a rival politician.

Punjab Congress has been witnessing tough time as the infighting within the party cadre is still going on and the party is not united as only a few months have left for the assembly polls. The top leaders are fighting with each other over petty issues and leaders like Jagmeet Brar along with Bir Devinder Singh are not in the party yet. And the immature behaviour of legislators during last monsoon session has left a bad impression.

Everyone in Punjab knows about the growing “internal rifts” of the Congress party. Former deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh and former MP, Jagmeet Singh Brar has been expelled out of the party for not following the party rules, doing anti-party activities, and indiscipline.

Jagmeet Singh Brar & his frustration for Amarinder

Even after getting expelled from the party, Jagmeet Singh Brar continued to speak against former CM, Captain Amarinder Singh and his family. He expressed his frustration towards Amarinder Singh through media and tweets. He was asked to stop these anti-party activities several times and both Prahsant Kishore and AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab, Shakeel Ahmad, discussed the issue with him. However, getting no positive response from Brar, Congress party decided to expel him from the party “with an immediate effect.”

jagmeet singh brar in an interview

In a recent interview, Brar claimed to have all the data regarding Amarinder and his family’s Swiss bank accounts. He stated that Amarinder and family have about 860 Crore saved in Swiss bank accounts on the name of Jacaranda trust. He was sure about his claims, and the revelations of ED. He told the media that he would reveal all these details in brief on August 15, 2016. He said that the party has forgiven Amarinder Singh numerous times for his “sins” but this is high time that he has to stand up for his party. He also expressed his discontent on the matter of Khadoor Sahib bypoll, and Talwandi Sabo bypoll.

Bir Devinder Singh: Not happy with Aroosa & Amarinder’s affair

On the other hand, Bir Devinder lashed out at Amarinder Singh for his alleged affair with Aroosa Alam. He warned Amarinder Singh that if he does not leave Aroosa now, he would have to face the same kind of defeat again in the year 2017.

Hide and Seek of Clashes

Apart from this, main members of the party i.e. Charanjit Singh Channi, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Prashant Kishore and Captain Amarinder Singh, they all share “not so good” bond with each other. No matter how much they try to hide their “internal conflicts”, Punjabis very well know about the absence of unity and teamwork of Congress party.

The suspended Congress leader and former Deputy Speaker, Bir DevinderSingh has been firing the salvos against his party leaders. He was suspended by PPCC President because of a write up spat between the duos.

After a day of his suspension, he has fired another salvo at Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. He continued his tirade against his own party leaders. Randhawa has been leading the committee formed by Amarinder Singh to prepare a report of further course of action against Devinder.

Devinder called Randhawa an “Amateur Hangman”

Davinder called Randhawa an “amateur hangman” and told Amarinder Singh to assign a “dignified senior” to head the inquiry against him. Devinder had been suspended after the write up spat between him and Amarinder.

He said, “If he wants to hang me, he should at least assign an experienced hangman. I am willing to be hanged but at least consider my personality and assign a senior man. I do not want to be tried by an MLA, much junior to me. His father and I were colleagues.”

Former PPCC presidents sitting idle with nothing to do, say Devinder

It’s now open that Congress is divided in the state and moreover, no leader showing respect to another. Devinder said that Amarinder should have assigned the task of inquiry to a senior member. He said, “Why cannot he assign this task to an ex-PPCC president. Quite a few are sitting idle with nothing to do.”

Amarinder wants to slit my throat, says Devinder

Devinder said, “I am not among those who snatch the microphone to speak. Amarinder knows how my vocal chords dried up in Amritsar when I asked people to vote for him as their MP. Amarinder wants to slit the same throat.”

Infighting within Congress will defeat the part in assembly polls

The senior Congress leader Manish Tewari had advised the party leaders to not fight with each other. He had lambasted the Punjab Congress leaders to maintain unity in the party otherwise the infighting of the Congress leaders will defeat the party in the assembly polls.

Punjab Congress Committee never misses a chance to make a headline. This is all revealed that nothing is going smooth in the Captain’s team. And it is once again witnessed at a recently held meeting at Chandigarh where all the top slot players of the Punjab Congress committee decide to give it a miss.

The first-ever meeting of the newly constituted PPCC meant for interaction between the top leadership and members of the apex body saw various big wigs of the team giving it a miss.

Amarinder loyalists got upset

Those who doesn’t made it to the meeting were Pratap Bajwa, Shamsher Singh Dullo, Mohinder Kaypee, Sunil Jakhar, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Parminder Singh Pinki, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Raj Lali Majithia, Navtej Cheema and many more. The reason for absentees was cited personal issues or commitments. But sources told a different tale that they preferred to stay away as they were peeved off at the way they had been placed in the new set up.

Turning down the issue, the Chief of PPCC Captain Amarinder Singh opted to choose the occasion to uplift the morale of those present. He talked about the recent and poor performance of Aam Aadmi party at Delhi municipal by-elections. He quoted, “Now the army of Congress is in place and our victory is sure.” The AAP has already lost in Punjab with a vertical division between the four MPs.

Meanwhile, Ambika Soni, Chairperson of the PPCC and State In-Charge Shakeel Ahmad asked the newly appointed office bearers to take up the charge and get along everyone to mark a victory in Punjab.

Also, putting all speculations to rest, Captain Amarinder Singh and party strategist Prashant Kishore found sharing camaraderie. Though Prashant was seated behind Captain, indicating the role being defined by the top panel only!

The write up spat between Capt Amarinder Singh and the former deputy speaker, Bir Devinder Singh has projected the wrong image of the party in front of the public. Devinder had openly written against Amarinder Singh in English daily. Even the PPCC President Capt Amarinder had also replied him through his write up next day in the same English daily.

Later, the former deputy speaker was suspended for raising his voice against Amarinder. The Punjab Congress head suspended him for the preliminary membership of the party and an internal inquiry was marked by making a three member team of legislator for the further course of action.

The three member committee has given its recommendation to expel the senior leader from the party for his anti-party activities. It seems that the Punjab Congress has been heading towards the dooms day. The party has lost the two political battles and third battle would be the crucial one for Congress. Instead of concentrating for the polls, Amarinder is busy in firing the prominent faces from the party.

Bir Devinder had raised an objection on the three members committee that the inquiry should have done by a senior Congress leader of former PPCC president. He had alleged that Amarinder framed the team of his loyalists and definitely, the committee would prepare a report to please the Punjab Congress head. Bir Devinder had accused Amarinder of inaccessibility, a charge refuted by the PPCC chief.

Amarinder’s dictatorial attitude will put Punjab Congress in history books

It is clear that Punjab Congress has failed to unite the leadership within the party and moreover, in the different district or local level units. The dictatorial attitude adopted by Amarinder against his party leaders and workers would lead the party towards the third consecutive defeat. The next generation would read about the history of Punjab Congress in books only as after the third defeat, Congress would be finished from the state.

Earlier, former Deputy Speaker, Bir Devinder Singh got suspendedby PPCC President Captain Amarinder Singh because of a write up spat between the duos. On his suspension, Bir said, “I do not know I have been suspended. If I have been suspended then I can say that Amarinder would have put his sagacity and wisdom at stake while deciding action against me. As my vocal chords had dried up when I canvassed for him in Amritsar, I am sure he would have been pained by this decision. Captain has taken a destructive path and has been destroying himself as well as the party in Punjab.”

Bajwa accused Captain
In a row, after Bir Devinder, now Bajwa is accusing Captain for his oppressivebehavior, while he visited Jallandhar with his group leaders and workers for the rally which was being organized by Captain. They were simply ignored by Captain and his team and were not allowed to speak in the rally. Not even a single microphone was given to Bajwa group of leaders in such huge rally.

Not only this, but Captain made fun of Bajwa, saying, “Bajwa is now out of Punjab politicsand I am the wholly solely Incharge in Punjab.”

Arrogant Captain
This arrogant attitude of Captain had showed publicly that there is lack of respect and unitybetween Congress leaders. It would not be wrong to say that the party is divided in the state.

Agitated Bajwa and his group of leaders have decided to brainstormagainstCaptainfor his egoisticand high headedattitude. On the 24th of April, there would be a function by Bajwa group to celebrate the Bajwa’s entry in Rajya Sabha, where they would teach Captain a lesson on clean Politics.

Noticeably, Bajwa group did not welcome Captain’s decision of nominating a new comer Hans Raj Hans for Rajya Sabha seat.

With this kind of leadership, the day is not far when Congress would lose its existence in Punjab.

The differences between the PPCC President and former CM Capt Amarinder Singh between the strategist Prashant Kishore started in the beginning.

PPCC President, Amarider Singh suspended the former Deputy speaker, Bir Devinder on Thursday and Kishore without informing Amarinder, he met the suspended leader.

Bir Devinder was suspended from the primary membership of the party for his write up which accused Amarinder for his dictatorial behaviour.

Views of Amarinder and Kishore differs on Devinder

Amarinder Singh and Kishore have different views regarding the suspended leader. Amarinder cited that Devinder’s anti party attitude has been spoiling the environment in the party.

However, Kishore met Devinder in the evening on the directions of party high command. The sources said that Amarinder got furious after hearing the meeting.

Kishore met Devinder at Chandigarh Airport

In the evening, Prashant Kishor and Devinder had an hour-long meeting at the Chandigarh airport before the former left for New Delhi.

Bir Devinder said, “I got a call from Prashant in the evening. He met me and said he was worried over the developments and emphasised that the issue should be resolved amicably and we should not escalate it further. He had come to meet me with authority from the party high command and knowledge of Amarinder.” However, Kishore has not consulted Amarinder before meeting Devinder.

Amarinder criticised Kishore for his meeting

After the meeting, Amarinder questioned Kishore that why he met the suspended party leader without his consent. Kishore tried to justify his move but Amarinder was reluctant to hear any plea of the strategist.

Amarinder’s attitude will ruin the Congress

The Congress party had contested the Punjab assembly polls in 2007 and 2015 under the headship of Amarinder Singh. The former CM failed twice to take the reins of Punjab. The recent incidents of blame game between the leaders and suspension of the party’s senior leader indicated that lack of unity within the party and Amarinder’s dictatorial attitude will ruin Congress in Punjab.

The write up spat between Capt Amarinder Singh and Bir Devinder has shown the poor plight of the party in the state. First Bir Devinder accused Amarinder in his write up and later Amarinder accused Devinder in a counter write up.

PPCC Chief suspended Bir Devinder from primary membership

Finally, the furious PPCC President showed his dictatorial attitude and suspended Bir Devinder Singh from the primary membership of the party.

Devinder was shown door because of his allegations against Amarinder in a write up. Even he has also requested the party high command to suspend senior Congress leader Jagmeet Brar because technically Amarinder cannot suspend Brar as Brar is a member of AICC.

Even a penal of three members under the headship of a sitting legislators is formed which would decide the further action against the former Deputy Speaker of Punjab.

Punjab Congress is not united

Only a year has left for the assembly polls and the Congress leaders are fighting with each other. A war of words has started between the leaders which can be seen in the newspapers by the personal write ups of Amarinder, Bir Devinder and Jagmeet Brar.

Even the Congress state head faced criticism in Amritsar by party workers. The incident has exposed the party in front of the public that except framing allegations against each other the party has lost its vision.

The party workers are not satisfied with the party’s top leadership and the top leaders have been fighting with each other. The Congress head Amarinder Singh has proved that he is a dictator of the party and if anyone would remember his weaknesses, he would be thrown out from the party.

Amarinder had fired a salvo against former PPCC President

The disunity within the party had come out when the incumbent PPCC Chief had written a letter against the then PPCC President Partap Bajwa to party high command few years back. In his letter he had stated that Bajwa had links with the terrorists. He had mentioned that Bajwa also knew the drug lords in Punjab.

PPCC Chief Captain Amarinder Singh hits back at his own party leader and former Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder. He had idiom Bir’s ‘Guest Column’ write-up as Congress Obituary and fired him for his act.

Captain defends himself
Capt Amarinder Singh has gone public to defend himself on charges of being accessible to public and party leaders after Bir wrote an article in a leading newspaper expressing his doubts over Congress success in the 2017 assembly poll. Bir had predicted that Congress is going for tough triangular contest and party seems losing battle. While targeting Capt Amarinder Singh for his autocratic style of functioning, Bir noted that party’s grass root cadre is facing a comprehensive disconnect with state’s top leadership.

“Paradox apart, it is strange and amusing that Punjab Congress chief media panelist Bir Devinder Singh, otherwise supposed to present and highlight the party’s point of view in a positive way, has chosen to start his new job with a vicious and wishful obituary of the party itself in his guest column (‘Can Cong rescue itself before Punjab polls?’) in the newspaper”, said Captain defending himself.

He also addressed Bir as “sulking, uprooted” leader indirectly. “Leaders like Bir must be feeling demoralized, disgruntled and disillusioned, but certainly not the rank and file of the Congress which is as enthused and excited as it should be”, said Captain.

Bir, a seasoned leader; says Captain
Captain termed Bir Devinder, who at time was among his best pals, as a seasoned leader. Also, he said that he had made a mistake by rehabilitating Bir Devinder who was desperately struggling in political wilderness by appointing his chief media panelist.

Captain mentioned in his write up, “A seasoned leader as he happens to be, Bir Devinder has the political experience and exposure, having travelled across the wide political spectrum from the Congress to the People’s Party of Punjab, to the Akali Dal and then back to the Congress and may be a possible future adventure somewhere else. No wonder, such “insightful and thoughtful” revelations can come from such “distinct and exclusive experience” only.”

The infighting between the Congress units of Punjab has proved that the party would create hat trick in Punjab assembly poll by repeating its defeat for the third time in a row.

Congress leaders are no more united and they don’t even speak in a single tone over crucial issues.